Category: Fun Stuff

The United States has been celebrating Labor Day since the late 1800s. It was started as a way to recognize all the work American workers have done to create the country we know today. While most of us might spend the day relaxing and having one last summer barbecue, here are a few other ways to celebrate Labor Day.

Shop local. Small, local businesses are the backbone of America. During the month of September (or beyond), try to do as much of your shopping at local business as you can. You might find your new favorite store or restaurant.

Spread love. While many of us get the day off, some people don’t. Bake some goodies and take them to your local fire or police station to show how much you appreciate their hard work.

Take a tour. Find a local farm or factory and schedule a tour to see how the products you buy make it to your home.

Have fun. There are quite a few festivals over Labor Day weekend here in the Utah Valley. Find one you and your family would enjoy and give it a try.

At L&L Motor Co., we hope everyone has a fun and relaxing Labor Day weekend.

Hop in your new car and check out the Flaming Gorge-Uintas Scenic Byway. This 68-mile drive consists of three different roadways, starting in Vernal, UT. Cutting right through the Ashley National Forest, you can experience a range of terrains, winding roads, and scenic views like nowhere else.

According to My Scenic Drives, this route is consistently voted one of the top drives in the region. Sometimes called the “drive through the ages,” you can see what the world was like before settlers arrived. The Byway goes through arid desert, aspen forests, and red canyon rocks, showing you the best of Utah.

Along the way you can see some truly fascinating exhibits and make some exciting stops. The Dinosaur National Monument is one of the prime sources for dinosaur bones in North America. With a visitor center and displays all across the canyon, you can see dinosaurs frozen in time right in the rock wall. Plus, there are scenic overlooks and whitewater rafting in the area.

The Byway will also take you past the Jones Hole Scenic Byway, a route that circles past a 2,000-foot-deep gorge. There is also a massive fish hatchery, hiking, and petrified forests in the area as well.

Whether you are a visitor or a Utah native, the Flaming Gorge-Uintas Scenic Byway is a must for any road trip. Simply get in your car and discover what makes this region so great.

Spotting prototypes is like bird watching to auto enthusiasts, especially those with a need for speed. The latest sighting puts a 2017 Ford GT undergoing road tests for the first time. Considering spotting any form of a Ford GT, old or new, is a rarity, it’s no surprise the latest Ford GT spotting made headlines.

While the spotting doesn’t tell us much, it looks like the GT rides just as low as it looks in the pictures Ford has previously released. On top of that, it’s a little easier to judge just how long, wide, and high the car is based on other vehicles around it.

Ford began taking applications – yes, applications – from potential buyers not long ago in an effort to weed out those who are looking to resell the car. Questions included how active the applicant is on social media, how many Fords they’ve owned, and how often they’d drive the 2017 Ford GT.

Even if someone looking to make a profit does have their application accepted, Ford is also including a legal document that states the owner can’t sell the car for a specific amount of time.

The 2017 Ford GT will feature a gorilla glass windshield, a first in the industry. Under the hood is a 3.5-liter twin-turbo engine that bursts onto the road with over 600 hp thanks to its carbon fiber construction.

Ford Driving Skills for Life is in its 13th year, taking its driving clinic all around the U.S, and to 34 other countries. This program is intended to increase awareness of pedestrian safety, the dangers of drowsy driving, and the risks associated with not wearing your seat belt. But this year, Ford Driving Skills for Life introduces the Drugged Driving Suit.

The Drunk Driving Suit debuted in 2013, but for the first time, the program offers a Drugged Driving Suit, too. Those attending ride-and-drive events will wear both suits to show them just how impaired they can be when driving drunk or high. The suits give students the same effects as drugs and alcohol, like slow movement, reduced coordination, blurred vision, and difficulty with normal tasks.

“Our new Drugged Driving Suit is intended to complement our Drunk Driving Suit, giving students a critical eye into the consequences of impaired driving,” said Jim Graham, manager of Ford Driving Skills for Life. This program offers crucial experience to make students, particularly teens, aware of the dangers of risky driving.

Teens are still the highest victims of car crashes, but with programs like Ford’s, awareness is increased and lives can be saved.

Presidents’ Day is just a few days away! At L&L Motors, we like to take the time to honor one particular United States President, who serves as the namesake for nearby Roosevelt, Utah: Theodore Roosevelt. While old Teddy’s face is up there on top of Mt. Rushmore with Washington, Lincoln, and Jefferson, there may be some things you don’t know about this presidential giant. These are just a few obscure facts about Teddy Roosevelt.

Fact #1: Roosevelt Climbed the Matterhorn

It is a well-known fact that Teddy Roosevelt was an avid explorer. His journeys even took him to the Alps to climb Europe’s most famous mountain.

Fact #2: Roosevelt Was Virtually Blind in One Eye

While Roosevelt was a big fan of boxing, he gave up the activity after a match in the White House left him with a detached retina in his left eye.

Fact #3: Teddy Roosevelt Continued to Give a Speech after Being Shot

If there is any doubt about whether Teddy Roosevelt was our toughest President, the story of how he continued to give a rousing 90-minute speech after being shot should put those doubts to rest!

With each new model, the brilliant designers at Ford make the F-150 better and better. Similarly, with each year, game designers meet from all over the world at the E3 convention, to show off the latest in gaming. When these two worlds combine, what do you get? A Halo-inspired Ford F-150.

The Ford F-150 Halo Sandcat looks like it came straight out of the Microsoft game franchise, down to the finest detail – including a United Nations Space Command decal. The double cab would provide plenty of room for your attack team, while the green color reflects the game’s landscape. Add the special edition pickup truck’s matte finish, and you have one vehicle that is ready to take on anything the Halo franchise has to offer.

You can check out some pictures of this clever geekery here. Sadly, the vehicle is not for sale, and there are currently on plans to go full production on this bad boy, though the Halo fanbase definitely wishes otherwise.

In order to get the most out of Take Your Child to Work Day, Ford decided to break some records. Starting as the brainchild of technician Matt West, Ford recently broke the record for having the biggest Hot Wheels® loop in the world.

How big was it? The Ford Hot Wheels Record consisted of a 12-foot loop that was six-inches wide, according to Ford. In order to build the gigantic loop, engineers had to set it up in the three-story atrium located at the Research and Innovation Center in Dearborn, Michigan. Believe it or not, this record beat its predecessor by over three feet.

“It started as part-fun, part-physics lesson with my son at home,” said West. “We built one in our playroom, and then built a five-foot-tall loop in our backyard. When people at Ford heard what we were up to, everyone thought it would be a great way to get young people excited about science and engineering by trying to break the world record on Take Your Child to Work Day.”

The trick to building this record-breaking loop was all in momentum: height doesn’t matter if the toy car can’t make it around. Although Ford didn’t measure the entire track, we at L&L Motors are told it was absolutely massive, consisting of a large wooden structure to help the Hot Wheels model make it through the massive loop.